The Highland Laird (Lords of the Highlands #8) - Amy Jarecki Page 0,81

that was all that mattered. After all the worry she’d endured, at last he had come for her.

He pressed his lips to her temple. “I’m so sorry, my love. We had no wind sailing up from the Firth of Clyde. The voyage took an entire sennight.”

“I cannot believe you’re here.” The dog licked her face. “And you brought my precious Albert!”

“He missed you so very much. We both did.” He wrapped a cloth around her arm, tying it snugly. “This is my cravat. It will stanch the bleeding for the now. Are you feeling faint?”

She smiled at him, brushing her fingers over his smooth, beardless cheek. “I’m so happy to see you a wee scratch cannot affect me in any way.”

“I’m afraid ’tis more than a scratch, mo leannan.”

She closed her eyes, relishing the deep tenor of Ciar’s voice. Masculine, yet gentle.

“Release my sister,” Robert growled like a belligerent boar.

“No!” Emma cried, clinging to her Highland hero.

“You’re bleeding,” said Robert. “Fetch the healer at once,” he ordered one of his men.

Ciar rose to his feet, cradling Emma in his arms. “She needs rest,” he said. “Have you bandages?”

“You will put my sister down this instant,” Robert demanded.

Emma flung her hand toward her brother, found his tartan sash and grabbed it. “If you truly love me you will cease this mindlessness.”

“I agree!” called Janet, over the patter of her feet running from the house. “You are being overbearingly rude to our guest.”

“Thank you, Janet.” Emma smiled in Janet’s direction. Bless it, she would stand up to her brother and bear the consequences. “I will only return to my chamber if the chieftain of Dunollie takes me above stairs. And if you deny him, I will insist that he take me elsewhere.”

“I adore your fortitude, lass, but you need to have your arm tended before we can go anywhere.” Ciar started for the house. “We’ll finish our conversation later, shall we, Grant? And mind you, it hasn’t escaped me that your sword was the one which struck Miss Emma. Furthermore, I did nothing but defend your attack. Prepare to accept my offer of marriage forthwith. I shall not be denied.”

Janet kept pace, the tap-tap of her slippers moving swiftly. “Are you suffering, my dear?”

“I’ve never been happier.” Emma brushed her fingers along Ciar’s chin. “You’ve shaved.”

“A man must put his best foot forward when wooing a wife,” he whispered, marching inside. “Now try to keep quiet until I have a look at your arm.”

Emma’s stomach fluttered. In fact her entire body was aflutter. Wife? Did he truly say “wife”?

“I’ll bring up some willow bark tea,” said Janet. “You mightn’t feel pain now, but I guarantee it will hurt a great deal more once the excitement abates.”

“Thank you.” Ciar hastened the pace. “Which way, my love?”

“First landing. Fourth door on the left.”

The ninth step creaked as they climbed just as it always did. “I would have been here sooner, but when we returned to Gylen, I was bludgeoned by one of Wilcox’s men—was in and out of consciousness three days. But I must tell you every time I opened my eyes I longed to hold you in my arms again.”

“I kent something horrible had happened.”

“But it was worse for you. I am so sorry I wasn’t there when Wilcox arrived.”

She curled into him, never so thrilled to be alive. “’Tis all forgotten now I’m in your arms.”

“Arf!” Albert yipped as Ciar strode through the corridor.

“There’s my dog, come, laddie!”

“Fourth on the left?” Ciar asked.

“Aye.”

He strode inside along with Albert. “He’s excited to see you.”

“Truly? I was afraid I’d never see him again.”

Ciar rested her on the bed. “You’ve bled through my makeshift bandage. Where can I find cloths?”

“There ought to be a stack of clean ones beneath the washstand.” Emma patted the mattress beside her. “Come, laddie.”

Albert jumped up, wriggling and rubbing his head in her lap.

She wrapped her arms around him and ran her fingers through his fur, laughing even though her arm throbbed with her effort. “I’ve never been so happy to be injured.”

“I hope Robert didn’t cut you too deeply.” Ciar returned to her bedside. “Albert, down.”

“Nay.” She held tight. “I want him here.”

“Then you shall have him.” He chuckled and slid a cloth beneath her arm. “Can you open and close your fingers?”

As she did, Emma hissed with a sharp pain.

He brushed his knuckle across her cheek. “I’m so sorry, mo leannan. I should have reacted faster.”

“It wasn’t your fault. Robert doesn’t understand. He thinks you took advantage of